Sheet metal panel construction



4 Sheets-Sheet l '[IIII'I 'Apxr'fili 3&1), Wfifi. E. N. WINSLOW SHEET METAL PANEL CONSTRUCTION Original Filed July 14, 1-930 A rili m, ms, E, N W QW wwms SHEET METAL PANEL CONSTRUCTION Original Filed July 14, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 April! 311]), N35 E. N. WINSLOW SHEET METAL PANEL CONSTRUCTION Original Filed July 14, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 A ril] w, m.

E. N. WINSLOW SHEET METAL PANEL CONSTRUCTION 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed July 14, 1930 m my Patented Apr. 30, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHEET METAL PANEL CONSTRUCTION Application July 14, 1930, Serial No. 467,822 Renewed February 3, 1934 '7 Claims.

This invention relates to sheet metal panel constructions and methods of building, assembling and supporting the same. While of more or less general application, the invention finds utility particularly in office buildings, apartments and other structures of a more or less public character, and relates primarily to comparatively thin panels for use in partitions and doors of toilet enclosures and the like.

With sheet metal panels heretofore constructed, the primary idea has been to simulate wooden panel construction for the rails and stiles, including moldings of irregular cross-section, mitered joints and like characteristics of the wooden structure. The mitered joints in particular have been the source of many difficulties and tedious and expensive operations. These have included the miter cutting of the metal, with the attendant scrap, welding or reenforcing elements inside the joint, as well as the welding of the mitered joint, grinding the welded joint, filling the same, and finally applying several coats of paint to cover the marks of the previous operations.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a sheet metal panel construction which will avoid mitered or welded joints, materially reduce the cost and increase the speed of production, and at the same time produce a panel having substantially all of the advantages of prior constructions, and additional advantages, being otherwise well adapted for the purposes set forth.

Rails or stiles might be formed at opposite margins of a piece of sheet metal larger than the panel desired by merely flanging or otherwise shaping the margins into a rectangular or other desired form. However, the cost of sheet metal is not directly proportional to its width, but, instead, the price per pound of a wide sheet may far exceed the price per pound of a sheet only a few inches narrower, and hence the additional cost of the wider sheets would dissipate any saving contemplated by merely shaping the margins of the sheet. It is, therefore, another object of the invention to provide a panel with rails or stiles joined without welding and without necessitating a blank sheet materially wider than the desired panel, its width in some cases being actually less than that of the finished panel.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for concealing the joints between the rails and stiles at the corners of the panel construction.

Another object of the invention is to combine the concealing means referred to above with means for supporting the panel from a metal surface perpendicular thereto, such as a wall or the side of a corner post, whereby the driving of screws or rivets into the supporting surface is entirely avoided.

Still another object is to combine the concealing means with hinge members or bumpers, when the panel is used as a door.

Other objects and features of novelty will be apparent as the following description proceeds, as taken in conjunction with the accompanying 10 drawings, in which Fig. 1 is abroken elevation of a panel according to one embodiment of the present invention, showing the same as supported between a pair of corner posts;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section along the line 2-2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section along the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a detail elevation, partly in section, of 20 the upper corner of the panel as secured to a corner post;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 4, the corner post being in section;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but showing 25 modifications which are desirable under certain conditions;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6, showing the construction at the bottom of the panel;

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic plan of an enclosure 30 in which the present panel construction may be used;

Fig. 9 is a side view, partly in section, of the structure shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 10 is a detail perspective view of .a lower 35 corner fragment of the assembled panel and supporting and joint concealing bracket;

Fig. 11 is an elevation of a panel according to the present invention, showing the same used as a door, being hinged to a corner post;

Fig. 12 is a section along the line l2-l2. of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a plan of a corner of a notched plate blank for a modified construction;

Fig. 14 is a section along line E i-l4 of Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a view similar to Fig. 13 showing the plate after folding;

Fig. 16 is a section along line |EIt of Fig. 15;

Fig. 1'? is a View similar to Fig. 15, showing the completed door or panel corner; and

Fig. 18 is a section along line l8-l8 of Fig. 17.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the panel construction comprises essentially a rectangular piece of sheet metal in, two opposite marginal portions of which are deformed to reenforce the same. The top and bottom marginal portions in the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, .are bent laterally to form a transverse flange H, a parallel flange I2, and an outer transverse flange E3 of substantially twice the width of the flange l l. These three flanges, or reenforcement for the sheet It, constitute what may be termed an inner rail for the panel, or a deformation of the panel at an edge of the latter.

Enclosing the inner rail is a reenforcing outer rail, preferably comprising a hollow sheet metal element 84 of rectangular molding'or cross-section, having the edges thereof spaced apart a distance at least equal to the thickness of the sheet it, thus forming a slot I 5 through which the sheet Hi projects. One edge of the member is is extended into its interior, as at 16, for a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the metal panel ill, and bent laterally, forming a reentrant flange ll overlying the flange ll It will be observed that the outer transverse portion of element M abuts against the outer surface of flange 53, while one of the inner walls of the element I4 abuts against the inner surface of the flange l l. The finish element Hi therefore embraces the two flanges II and 13, engaging the inner side of flange II and the outer side of flange l3, and is held by those flanges against movement in any direction except longitudinally'of the reenforcement. The reentrant flange E1 on the element I4 and the connecting part l5 serve to close the joint between thepanel and finish element l4 and also to increase the rigidity of the assembled parts, but obviously the parts it and I? may be omitted if desired without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the embodiment illustrated inFi'g. 1, this construction is shown for the rails, and to form the stiles, a welded tubular element I8 is provided which has reentrant portions IS in one side thereof, defining .a'slot 20 which is adapted to receive the edge 2| of the sheet it. However, as shown in Fig. 11, the elements l4 surrounding the reenforcing portions of the panel 16 may constitute the stiles of the panel, and the elements is will constitute the rails. In other words, either construction may be employed for either use as a door or a partition panel.

In Fig. 1 the rails is are shown as extending the full width of the panel, so that the elements is, to form the stiles, will be of such length as to lie snugly between the inner edges of the members it The members It might be made to extend the full length of the panel and the reenforcing elements M made intercostal with respect to the members l8, but this construction would necessitate notching the corners of the sheet it where the flanges H, l2 and I3 are formed, so that the first mentioned arrangement is the more convenient.

However constructed, there will be a joint between the rails and the stiles, and to cover this joint, instead of welding the same, or to cover a weld, a corner piece is provided. This corner piece 'for the partition embodiments is a U- shaped stamping 22, the sides of which'ar'e of suffici nt width to extend along the stiles and rails a distance greater than the common width thereof so as to cover the abutting edges of the rails and stiles. To avoid sharp corners, improve the appearance, and prevent a dust accumulating pocket at the inner corner formed by the inner edges of the stiles and rails, the corner piece is rounded off, as shown at 23, even with the line of such corner.

The corner piece 22 is further modified to form a supporting bracket by which it may be secured to and supported from a flat metal surface, such as a wall, or the side of a corner post 24.

In Figs. 4 and 5, the corner post 24 terminates at the top of the panel, but the same may extend therebeyond, as shown in Figs. 6 and 9. Ofiset securing lugs 25 extend vertically from flanges 26 integral with the side corner pieces 22. Holes 27 are provided in the faces of the corner posts, and by merely inserting the tongues 25 through the openings and swinging down the corner piece to the position shown, the same will be adequately secured to the corner posts.

The lugs 25 are adjacent the bridge portion 28 of the corner piece 22a in Figs. 6 and 9, while in Figs. 4, 5, '7 and 10 the lugs 25 are adjacent the open side portions of the member 22b.

At the lower portion of the panel, as shown in Figs. 7 and 10, the corner piece 22 may be identical with that shown in Figs. 4 and 5, but is reversed with respect thereto so that the bridge portion 28 connecting the two sides of the mem ber 22 will form a saddle to receive the rail l4 and thus support the weight of the entire panel from the two lower corners. A single screw'29, preferably of the metal-cutting type, is employed at each corner, if desired, to secure the corner piece 22 to the member I l or l8, as the case may be, the screw being applied after the parts are otherwise assembled. With the saddle arrangement above described, the lower screws at the bottom of the panel may be omitted if desired.

The structure described may be very economically manufactured by the following method:

Two edges of the metal sheet l0 are bent into the form of the inner rails shown in the various figures, and separate narrow strips of sheet metal are bent into the form of the reenforcing elements M. The elements I4 are assembled on the reenforced marginal portions of the sheet H! by merely sliding the same laterally thereover, the flange ll of the sheet i8 fitting between the flange l7 and the inturned flange forming the other edge of the element M. The tubular elements l8, deformed to provide the slot structure is, ,are then cut to a length equal to the distance between the rails M. A stile I8 is positioned at each side of the panel with the edge 2| of the panel entering the slot 28 of the stile and the two stiles are drawn together by any desirable means, such as carriage clamps.

When the panel is to form part of a stationary partition, the corner pieces or supporting saddles 22 may be mounted on the corner posts 24 by inserting the offset tongues 25 through the holes 21, as described. The lower saddles may be mounted first and the panel lowered thereinto, after which the upper members 22 may be lowered over the rails Hi, the tongues 25 inserted into the corner post, and rotated into position, the sides sliding along the edges of the rails H! or stiles 58, .as the case may be. However, the construction shown in Figs. 4 and 5 does not permit this sequence. In this. case the corner post is made in two parts 24a and 24?), as shown in Fig. 3, and the brackets are assembled with the movable part of the corner post and then filled over the panel, after which the parts of the corner post are assembled.

It should be noted that the screw 2? is inserted vertically at the top and bottom of the panel. Obviously, if screws were inserted into the flanges 26, aside from necessitating the penetration of the corner posts, driving screws through the same would necessitate the screw-driver lying parallel and adjacent to the rails l4, thus leaving no clearance for the hand of the workman. However, enclosure partitions are generally spaced a considerable distance from the floor and also from the ceiling. This customary arrangement leaves plenty of clearance so that a screwdriver may be readily employed to drive the screw 29. Thus the driving of the screws 29, after inserting the tongues 25, results in very rapid assembly of the partition.

When the panel constructed as ,above described, is to be utilized as a door, as shown in Fig. 11, the joints on the pivot side of the door corresponding to those covered by the corner pieces 22 may be covered by the door hinge parts 39. The corresponding joints at the outer or swinging edge of the door may be covered by suitable bumper parts 3 5. Obviously, the advantages of the corner piece 22 enumerated above will be realized, but the corner pieces will be extended and designed to form part of the hinge or bumper, as the case may be, and in lieu of the screws 29, suitable bolts 32 may be employed for securing the same to the door.

Certain features of the invention may be embodied in the construction shown in Figs. 13 to 18 inclusive. This construction may be employed for either the door or the panel. The sheet IQ is notched out at the corners, as shown at 33, leaving a strip at one margin, and a strip at the adjacent margin, as shown in Figs. 13 and 14. Both strips 3% and 35 are then bent or folded into the channel reenforcing portion hereinbefore described, leaving the flanges H, I2 and E3.

The bent or folded sheet is shown in Figs. 15 and 16, in which it will be noted that the notch 1-3 is so formed as to leave a clearance of the thickness of the metal, below the channel shaped margin (i l. This clearance permits the reenforcing strip i l to be slid over one channel past the other channel, so as to complete the corner.

As shown in Figs. 1? and 18, the element I4 is slid over the channel 35 past the end of the channel 35, and a second element it is then slid over the channel and butted against the inner side of the first element is. The corner piece 22 may be fitted over the corner so formed in the manner already described, or when used as a door, the parts Ell or it! may be used, This construction shown in Figs. 13 to 18 inclusive omits the welded tube is.

With respect to the corner piece 22 or parts 30 or 3 l, the same may be employed with any desired panel or door construction, such as a metal sheet with tubes E8 on all four sides, or with a filled panel or door which is of the same thickness hroughcut. I

While several embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described in sufficient detail to enable any one skilled in the to practice the invention, nevertheless the scope of the invention is not to be limited to any of the details disclosed, other than as necessitated by the development of the prior art, but, instead, includes such embodiments of the broad idea as fall within the scope of the appended claims, it being obvious that various modifications and changes may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a sheet metal partition construction, in combination with a sheet metal panel, means for connecting said panel to an apertured fiat r ctal surface, comprising a member having a recess adapted to receive a margin of said panel and cover the corner joint thereof, and tongues carried by said member adapted to enter the apertures of said apertured flat metal surface.

2. In a sheet metal panel construction, a metal sheet having a deformation in a margin thereof, said deformation extending laterally from the plane of the sheet and outwardly away from the flat portion of the sheet, and a sheet metal finish element having parallel side walls and a transverse outer wall, said element also having an inner wall engaging the inner side of the laterally extending portion of the deformation, and said deformation having a portion engaging the inner side of the transverse outer wall of the finish element, whereby the finish element is retained in position by said deformation and may be slid onto or oif of said deformation longitudinally-thereof.

3. In a sheet metal panel construction, a metal sheet having a deformation in a margin thereof, and a generally rectangular tubular reenforcement enclosing said deformation, said deformation engaging the tubularreenforcement at two diagonally opposite corners thereof, whereby it is held against movement in every direction except longitudinally.

4. In a sheet metal panel construction, a metal sheet having a marginal deformation comprising a portion extending at right angles to the sheet, and a generally rectangular tubular reenforcement enclosing said marginal. deformation having one corner engaging the outer edge of said right angle portion, said deformation including a further portion engaging the tubular reenforcement at the corner diagonally opposite the outer edge of said right angle portion.

5. In a sheet metal panel construction, a metal sheet having a marginal deformation comprising a portion extending at right angles to the sheet, a portion extending to a position diagonally opposite the outer edge of said right angle portion, and a generally rectangular tubular reenforcement enclosing said marginal deformation having one corner engaging the outer edge of said right angle portion of the deformation and the diagonally opposite corner engaging said second named portion of the deformation.

6. In a sheet metal panel construction, a metal sheet having a marginal deformation, a tubular reenforcing and finishing member mounted upon said deformation, said tubular member having flat sides spaced laterally equal distances from said sheet, said deformation engaging diagonally opposite corners of the tubular member for holding it firmly against movement except in a longitudinal direction.

'2. In a sheet metal panel construction, a metal sheet having a deformation in a margin thereof extending transversely of the plane of the sheet, a reenforcing and finishing member of split tubular form having parallel side walls and a transverse wall and having portions on either side of the split turned inwardly from the side walls and engaging the opposite sides of the sheet, said deformation engaging internally said outer trans verse wall and one of said inturned portions, whereby movement of the finishing member other than sliding movement lengthwise of said deformation is prevented.

EDWARD N. WINSLOW. 

